Violence Interrupters Inc. Call for Immediate Training for Police to Reduce Killings of Civilians

Press Conference Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 9:30 AM, Outside Chicago Police Headquarters

CHICAGO – In the wake of Tyre Nichols and more recently, Anthony Lowe, a double amputee from Huntington Park, CA, who was killed by police last week, Violence Interrupters Inc. will hold a press conference on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 9:30 AM, outside the Chicago Police Department (CPD) at 3510 S. Michigan Ave.

During the press conference, the organization will call on the CPD and law enforcement departments across the nation to immediately hold training sessions to reduce the surge in aggressive and excessive force by authorities. Tio Hardiman, founder and executive director of the national renown organization, said America’s police officers need training that addresses, de- escalation, conflict resolution, implicit bias and other sensitivities that will reduce the number of Blacks, Hispanics, and other people of color killed by authorities.

“We are not condemning authorities, but something must be done to reverse this trend,” Hardiman said. “Tyre Nichols’ death could have been spared. Anthony Lowe never stood a chance. Where could he run or flee without his wheelchair? He posed no threat. Our officers need training because they must know what to do and how to call for support before they make a bad and deadly decision. We must address this problem immediately because we cannot afford for another civilian to be killed.”

Nichols, 29, was brutally beaten by several Memphis police during a routine traffic stop on January 7. He died three days later. His death provoked a national outcry against aggressive force by police. That outrage led to swift charges against the officers, the disbanding of the unit created to address street crimes and a call for major policy changes. Nichols’ funeral services were covered live by some media organizations.

Lowe, who lost both of his legs last year and had not received prosthetics, was wielding a knife, when authorities arrived on the scene in the afternoon on January 26 responding to a report of a man being stabbed by a man in a wheelchair. When Lowe ignored their commands, he shot by a stun guns. When he continued to ignore them, police fired their guns, hitting him with 10 bullets. He died at the scene.10 times by and 10 bullets. Family and the community say the shooting was unjustified because his mobility was limited without a wheelchair.

Last year, a New York Times investigation looked at 400 police killings of unarmed motorists of a five- year period. The report revealed that in many cases the officers responded with outside aggression to disrespect or disobedience – a driver talking back, revving an engine, or refusing to get out of a car.

According to the Washington Post, which has been tracking civilians killed by police since 2015, an average of 1,000 people is killed by police very year.

In Illinois, an average of 10 people is killed a year.

Hardiman, whose organizations have conducted training sessions across the nation in cities such as New York, Washington, Charleston and Kenosha, said he has seen evidence that such training works.

“Police and community relations have improved in those areas,” he said.

About Tio Hardiman: Dubbed “Mr. Ceasefire,” Tio Hardiman created the award-winning CeaseFire initiative in 2004, and has been dedicated to combating problems of violence and corruption in the nation’s third largest city. Hardiman is also the creator of the critically acclaimed documentary, The Interrupters (2011), and decided to produce a second film called The Chicago Way in 2017 as pushback against Chicago’s political corruption, police brutality, and the continued gun violence. Using his platform, Hardiman launched himself in the 2018 Gubernatorial race against Democrat powerhouses like JB Pritzker and Chris Kennedy. He ran his campaign on the principles of combating violence, racism, and the top-down corruption that has been taking place for decades in Illinois. On April 26, 2020, Mr. Hardiman launched the “Tio Mr. Ceasefire Hardiman Show on WVON 1690 AM in Chicago, which airs on Sundays between 6 AM and 7 AM. For additional information on Tio Hardiman and Violence Interrupters, visit https://www.violenceinterrupters.org/. To schedule an interview with Mr. Hardiman, contact Jerry Thomas at (312) 804-7999, or jerry@jerrythomaspr.com.